If you’re looking to impress your guests or treat yourself, then look no further than this Jaleesa’s chocolate cake recipe.
This scrumptious dessert will delight all who taste it.
What Are The Ingredients In Jaleesa’s Chocolate Cake Recipe?
This delicious cake has just three main ingredients.
The first is flour, which gives it its texture and structure.
Then there’s cocoa powder, which lends itself well to baking as it contains natural fats and sugars.
Finally, sugar helps with both sweetness and tenderness of the finished product.
All together, these three basic ingredients give Jaleesa\u2019s chocolate cake its distinctive flavor profile.
Other less-commonly used but equally important ingredients include vanilla extract, milk, eggs, butter, salt, and baking soda.
These ingredients help create moisture and improve the overall quality of the final product.
- Flour – Flour provides a solid foundation for most baked goods. It also adds body and lightens the texture when mixed with other ingredients.
- Cocoa powder – Cocoa powder has been around since the 16th century. It was originally made from dried cacao beans found in Central America and Africa. Today, however, it can be obtained through many different methods including fermentation, roasting, and extraction. Each method produces a slightly different type of cocoa powder that yields varying levels of fat and sugar content.
- Sugar – Sugar contributes to the sweet flavor of Jaleesa\u2019s chocolate cake. When combined with cocoa powder, it forms a paste that mixes easily into the batter and makes the finished product extra soft and moist.
- Butter – Butter enhances the richness of the chocolate cake without adding calories while making it more digestible. It also creates a smooth surface on the finished product.
- Vanilla extract – Vanilla extract comes from an unopened pod of a tropical plant called the vanilla bean. Its distinct aroma makes it one of the most popular edible flavoring agents available today.
- Milk – Milk acts as a binding agent in the mixture. It also improves the texture of the finished product by giving it additional moisture.
- Eggs – Eggs provide leavening power. They also add protein to the mix and increase volume.
- Salt – Salt is known not only for its ability to enhance savory flavors, but also to keep food fresh. In addition, it plays a key role in creating a balance between acidity and alkalinity within every dish.
- Baking Soda – Baking soda increases carbon dioxide levels. As the gas expands inside of the oven, it causes air bubbles to form throughout the whole cake. This results in a lighter, fluffier cake with lots of holes.
How Do You Make Jaleesa’s Chocolate Cake Recipe?
Prepare an 8×8-inch baking pan by lining with parchment paper.
Then grease the sides using butter or oil.
To begin making the batter, add one cup sugar into a bowl.
Add two eggs and beat until thickened.
Next, whisk together three cups flour, 1/3 cup cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla extract.
Finally, pour the wet mixture over the dry mixture and fold gently until combined.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Pour the batter into prepared pan and bake for 40 minutes.
Let cool completely before removing from pan.
This delicious Jaleesa\u2019s chocolate cake has been around since the 1930s.
The original creator was named as “Jalessa,” but her name was changed when she registered the trademark.
Since then, many different recipes have popped up online, but none seem quite right.
Some even claim that Jalessa invented the recipe herself.
In reality, there were multiple versions of this recipe, most notably the version created by the Chicago company, Jaleesa, which is still available today.
It seems like they may have taken inspiration from other recipes, too, including one called the “New York Chocolate Cake” (which can be found on Recipezaar).
The New York Chocolate Cake is also known as the “Chocolate Fudge Cake,” although it doesn’t contain fudge.
Instead, it contains just dark chocolate chips and melted white chocolate.
The ingredients include four cups of flour, six tablespoons of shortening, one tablespoon of cream of tartar, ten ounces of brown sugar, five teaspoons of baking soda, and three eggs.
This recipe calls for water instead of milk, so feel free to try it out if you want to give it a go.
As you might expect, these cakes aren’t exactly healthy.
They’re high in fat and low in nutrients, which makes them bad news for those trying to lose weight or maintain their current body mass index score.
However, because they’re not overly sweet, they won’t leave you feeling bloated afterward either.
In fact, some people enjoy eating them every day, especially during the holiday season.
What Is The History Of Jaleesa’s Chocolate Cake Recipe?
Jaleesa Chocolate Cake Recipe has been around since at least 1997, when it was published in the Houston Chronicle.
It became one of their most requested recipes over the years, with more than 15 million copies sold by 2010.
The recipe was created by chef/owner Jeff McInerney, who said he wanted to create an easy-to-make “baking classic” that would be available across his restaurants.
The original recipe called for three eggs instead of two, but when McInerney tested it out on friends they complained about how dense the texture felt.
According to McInerney, he came up with the idea of using half whole milk and half heavy cream.
He also added cocoa powder to give the cake its signature flavor.
Since then, the recipe has changed slightly from time to time, depending on what ingredients are available at each restaurant.
McInerney says he always uses high quality ingredients, including organic butter and real vanilla bean paste.
They use only pure cane sugar because it gives the best results.
They prefer to bake cakes in cast iron pans rather than aluminum ones due to the fact that they can get hotter than other baking methods, which helps them cook through the batter faster.
Why Is Jaleesa’s Chocolate Cake Recipe So Popular?
The popularity of this Jaleesa’s chocolate cake recipe comes from its unique texture.
The cake has an airy, flaky crust with light, tender crumb on top.
It also boasts rich cocoa flavor thanks to the addition of cocoa powder in the batter.
This makes the cake very easy to prepare as well.
All you need to do is whip up the batter using ingredients like flour, sugar, eggs, butter, baking powder, salt, vanilla extract, and milk.
After mixing everything together, you can bake the cake in the oven at 350 F (180 C) for about 40 minutes.
Once baked, simply frost the entire thing with delicious icing made out of powdered sugar, heavy cream, and melted chocolate chips.
You can finish off the whole thing by sprinkling it with nutmeg just before serving.
In short, if you want to make something special for your loved ones, then this Jaleesa’s chocolate cake recipe is definitely what you should try first.
What Are Some Variations Of Jaleesa’s Chocolate Cake Recipe?
Jaleesa’s chocolate cake recipe has been around since the late 1980s.
It was created by Chef Lala in 1986 at The Cheesecake Factory located in California.
However, Jaleesa only opened its doors in 2012 after many years of popularity on social media, especially Instagram.
The original Jaleesa’s chocolate cake recipe calls for baking powder instead of baking soda, as well as using dark cocoa powder instead of regular cocoa powder.
There have also been numerous modifications made over time, including adding vanilla extract, buttermilk, almond milk, white sugar, brown sugar, or honey.
This recipe can be found online across several different websites, such as Food Network and Chowhound.
However, these recipes tend to make slight changes from one another, which makes them unique and delicious.
So if you want to get creative with your own version of this classic cake, here are some of our favorite variations.
1. Chocolate Cake With White Chocolate Mousse Filling
A simple yet elegant variation to this recipe comes courtesy of Food Network.
Instead of mixing together the batter, this recipe uses white chocolate mousse filling in place of the frosting.
The result is an extra-creamy layer between each slice of cake.
If you like rich desserts, this might just be what you were craving all along!
2. Moist & Fluffy Chocolate Cake Recipe With Orange Glaze
Another great option for those seeking a more traditional flavor profile, this Jaleesa’s chocolate cake recipe includes orange zest and juice.
While there isn’t a specific mention of the type of flour used (since the ingredients list doesn’t specify), we recommend substituting 1 cup of whole wheat flour for half of the all purpose flour called for in the original recipe.
3. Chocolate Cake With Brown Sugar Frosting
While not exactly a modification intended for vegan diets, this alternative Jaleesa’s chocolate cake recipe features a thick layer of brown sugar frosting.
You can use either light or dark brown sugar, depending on your preference.
For best results, leave out the butter altogether, and use coconut oil instead.
4. Dark Chocolate Cake With Raspberry Chia Seed Pudding
For anyone who loves their chocolate cake extra creamy, try this new twist on the iconic dessert.
To create this recipe, add chia seeds into the batter before combining everything else together.
Afterward, pour the pudding mixture onto the top of the cake when it’s done baking.
5. Lemon Poppyseed Cake With Cream Cheese Icing
This lemon poppy seed cake combines two of my personal favorites – lemon and cream cheese icing.
In addition to being incredibly tasty, this sweet treat is also very low fat and gluten free.
6. Vegan Coconut Lime Cupcakes With Mint Buttercream
Want to make sure that everyone knows that you’re eating healthy with this vegan Jaleesa’s chocolate cake recipe? Then why not go all out with some mint buttercream frosting? Not only does it provide a refreshing change of pace, but it’s also easy to whip up without having to resort to dairy products.
How Did Jaleesa Come Up With Her Chocolate Cake Recipe?
Jaleesa started baking cakes when she was in high school.
Her first experience came from watching her mom make them at home.
She learned how to bake by reading cookbooks and following recipes.
When she went away to college, she continued learning more about the art of cooking through trial and error.
Once she graduated, she got a job as a waitress and baked cakes on the side while working there.
From there, Jaleesa opened her own bakery called Sweet Life Bakery where she continues to create delicious desserts.
The ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups flour (all-purpose)
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 cup cocoa powder
- 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate melted and cooled
- 2 eggs well beaten
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup water mixed together
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
Note: For an extra special touch add 1/2 cup mini marshmallows, crushed, before adding the egg mixture into the batter.
Baking instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Grease two 9×13 inch pans and set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder.
Set aside.
Combine cocoa powder and melted chocolate in another small bowl and stir until smooth.
Add cooled melted chocolate to dry mix and beat well.
In large mixing bowl combine eggs, oil, water mixture, vanilla, almond extract and blend well.
Add wet mix to dry mix alternately beating well after each addition.
Fold in nuts if using.
Pour batter evenly between prepared pans and spread evenly.
Bake 30 minutes or until edges just begin to pull away from sides of pan and center springs back when gently touched.
What Makes Jaleesa’s Chocolate Cake Recipe Unique?
This delicious chocolate cake is made from scratch using simple ingredients like flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, vanilla extract, eggs, buttermilk, butter, and brown sugar.
It takes about an hour and 15 minutes to bake the cake in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177 Celsius).
The time may seem long, but the result is worth every minute of preparation.
The best part of this recipe is that there is no need to pre-soak the cocoa beans before adding them into the batter.
Soaking the cocoa beans can take anywhere between three hours and overnight and it is a tedious process which requires patience.
If you have the time and want to avoid additional steps, then use fresh cocoa powder instead.
Jaleesa also uses whole milk in her chocolate cake recipe.
While whole milk does not add extra fat, its rich flavor helps create a moist and flavorful end product.
For those who prefer their desserts low on calories or who are watching what they eat, opt for skimmed or non-fat milk as a substitute.
What Are Some Tips For Making Jaleesa’s Chocolate Cake Recipe?
The secret behind the success of the Jaleesa’s chocolate cake recipe is its simplicity – there are very few ingredients in the mix (just eggs, butter, sugar, buttermilk, cocoa powder, baking soda, vanilla extract, flour, salt, and hot water).
However, those are just the basics.
The key to achieving the best results with this recipe is to use quality ingredients.
That means using high-quality unsweetened chocolate instead of cheap candy bars, and fresh eggs rather than expired ones.
If you don’t have access to these items, it’s always acceptable to substitute them with store-bought equivalents.
Another tip for successful Jaleesa\u2019s chocolate cake recipe preparation is to ensure proper mixing.
While stirring may be faster, if not done properly, it could result in lumpy batter, which can affect the texture of the finished product.
Finally, when preparing the cake, start by preheating the oven at 350°F / 180℉ before adding the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.
Once everything has been mixed together, bake the cake until a toothpick inserted comes out clean from the center.
These steps should help you achieve delicious results every time you prepare this delightful dessert.
How Can I Make Jaleesa’s Chocolate Cake Recipe
The first thing you should know about this delicious chocolate cake recipe is the name of the dish itself.
The name comes from two words, jal-eela meaning “to be full of love” in Arabic and chocolat meaning “chocolate” in Spanish.
This chocolate cake recipe uses almond milk as its main ingredient.
Almond milk has been used by many cultures around the world throughout history.
It was popularized by Native Americans living in North America.
In fact, they called it ‘manna’ because of how nourishing it tasted.
Almonds have also been known to help people with diabetes manage their blood sugar levels.
They contain high amounts of protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats.
These nutrients ensure that almond milk keeps us feeling fuller longer so we don’t overeat.
Next, you need to decide what type of flour you want to use when baking this Jaleesa’s chocolate cake recipe.
Flour is one of three major ingredients needed to bake a great cake.
Baking soda helps the batter rise while cocoa powder gives it a dark color.
Eggs add moisture and richness while vanilla extract adds flavor.
Finally, there are other optional ingredients like honey, chocolate chips, and nuts.
If you choose to include them, these small additions will give you an extra boost of sweetness and texture to this already rich and decadent cake.
Equipment
- 1 Oven
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups flour all-purpose
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 cup cocoa powder
- 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate melted and cooled
- 2 eggs well beaten
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup water mixed together
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 cup chopped nuts optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Grease two 9×13 inch pans and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder.
- Set aside.
- Combine cocoa powder and melted chocolate in another small bowl and stir until smooth.
- Add cooled melted chocolate to dry mix and beat well.
- In large mixing bowl combine eggs, oil, water mixture, vanilla, almond extract and blend well.
- Add wet mix to dry mix alternately beating well after each addition.
- Fold in nuts if using.
- Pour batter evenly between prepared pans and spread evenly.
- Bake 30 minutes or until edges just begin to pull away from sides of pan and center springs back when gently touched.
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My blog is all about creating delicious meals with ingredients that are easy to find in your local grocery store. I’m passionate about making yummy meals that I can share with my friends and family.